Blue Badge fee for disabled drivers in Lancaster & Morecambe

Gemma Sherlock

Anyone eligible for a Blue Badge across the Lancaster district will now have to pay for it.

From March 1 a £10 fee will be introduced for people and organisations wanting to acquire a Blue Badge.

Lancashire County Council has introduced the fee to cover the 58 percent cost of the Blue Badge scheme.

More than 27,400 badges were issued in Lancashire between March 2014 and April 2015.

The scheme allows people with disabilities affecting their mobility to park closer to their destination, by using disabled bays and areas where parking restrictions may usually be in place.

Blue Badges can be used in vehicles where an eligible disabled person is the driver or a passenger.

County councillor Tony Martin, cabinet member for adult and community services, said: “We are facing some tough decisions in light of the county council’s current financial situation.

“Unprecedented cuts in government funding, combined with an increasing demand for our services, mean we have to save £65m over the next two years.

“We issue more Blue Badges than any other council in the country. Although there will be a charge for this service, it is still great value for money as they provide a range of parking concessions for a three-year period.

“The charge was proposed following a review earlier this financial year. We also made improvements to the scheme which have led to a reduction in waiting times, improved processing times and fewer formal complaints.”

In addition to the £10 charge, organisations can now also apply for Blue Badges for vehicles that are being used to transport people with disabilities affecting their mobility.

For more information about Lancashire County Council’s Blue Badge scheme visit: www.lancashire.gov.uk/parking.